Room for All: Inclusive Employment and Social Enterprise with Jess Colgan Welcome to 'Room for All,' the podcast where we explore inclusive employment and the creation of opportunities for people with disabilities. Join hosts Andrea Comastri and Saraya O'Connell of Hotel Etico as they discuss breaking down workplace barriers, particularly in hospitality. This episode features Jess Colgan, CEO of All Things Equal and co-founder of Ginger Snap Patisserie, who shares insights into creating award...

Room for All: Breaking Barriers in Inclusive Employment Join hosts Andrea Comastri and Saraya O'Connell in this episode of 'Room for All' This episode features a conversation with Dr. Cale Bain of UTS Center for Social Justice and Inclusion, who discusses the importance of inclusive community engagement and the impact of UTS programs like Shopfront and Soul. The discussion delves into social impact, breaking down barriers, and the value of real-world experience for students. Tune in to ...

Creating Opportunities: Vanessa Brettell on Empowering Refugee and Migrant Women In this episode of Room for All, we sit down with Vanessa Brettell, the co-founder and CEO of Stepping Stone Social Enterprise. Vanessa shares the mission of Stepping Stone, a work integration social enterprise in Canberra that provides employment and training to migrant and refugee women facing multiple barriers to employment. The initiative operates two cafes and a catering business, offering both long-term and...

Ethical AI and Social Impact: A Conversation with James Gauci | Room For All Podcast Join us for an engaging episode of the Room For All Podcast, live from the Social Traders Convene in Melbourne! In this episode, host Andrea interviews James Gauci, founder and leader of Cadent, a responsible AI engineering and governance consultancy. James shares his experiences from Morton Bay, his journey in the tech industry, and the inspiration behind starting Cadent. Learn about the importance of ethica...

Empowering Women with Criminal Records: Natascha Consigli on Barriers and Support Programs Join us as we delve into an inspiring conversation with Natascha Consigli, the Employment and Training Program Coordinator at Success Works Partners. Natascha discusses the organization's mission to support women with criminal histories in finding meaningful and sustainable employment. With her own lived experience, Natascha sheds light on the unique challenges these women face, the critical support the...

Join us as we sit down with Jemma Tribe, chairperson of the Nowra Community Food Store, to explore how a small-town social enterprise is making a big impact! From humble beginnings to serving thousands each week, Jemma shares the challenges, triumphs, and community spirit that keep the doors open. 00:00 – Introduction & Jemma’s background 01:46 – What is the Nowra Community Food Store? 03:11 – How the store operates & its unique model 04:31 – The story of saving the store from closur...

Understanding Money and Thriving with Amanda di Medici of Yenom In this insightful episode of Room For All, we sit down with Amanda di Medici, the founder of Yenom, a unique financial education platform. Amanda shares her personal journey with money management and how it inspired her to create Yenom. We dive into the importance of financial literacy, the services offered by Yenom, and the pressing need for financial education in workplaces. Amanda also discusses common financial pitfalls, th...

Weh Chats About Umbo's Impact in Regional Australia In this episode of Room for All, the managing director and co-founder of Umbo, Wei, shares the story behind their social enterprise which focuses on providing essential Allied health services to people in regional Australia through telehealth. Weh discusses the origins of Umbo, its unique business model, and the challenges faced in a sector where long wait times and high costs are common. With 50% of their profit dedicated to subsidizing th...

Nina Gbor: Championing Sustainable Fashion & Tackling Fast Fashion Waste | Room for All Podcast Join us in this inspiring episode of the Room for All podcast as we welcome Nina Gbor, a passionate sustainable fashion educator, speaker, and researcher. Nina shares her journey from a vintage fashion enthusiast to becoming an advocate for sustainable fashion. Discover her work with Eco Styles, organizing large-scale clothes swaps, and founding Swap in the City, Australia's first no fast fash...

Kylie Flament Discusses the Future of Social Enterprise Join Kylie Flament, CEO of the Social Enterprise Council of New South Wales and ACT (SECNA), as she talks about the importance of social enterprises, their growth, and impact. Kylie shares her journey, the challenges faced by social enterprises, and how SECNA is supporting and connecting these businesses to create a cleaner, greener, and kinder world. This episode also highlights the success and growth of the annual social enterprise fe...

Inclusive Employment and MTC Future Ready with James Walters In this episode of the Room for All Inclusion and Hospitality podcast, host interviews James Walters, GM of Strategic Growth at MTC Future Ready, a not-for-profit organization specializing in employment training and youth programs. James shares insights into MTC's recent achievements, including winning a new disability contract, and discusses their work in supporting culturally and linguistically diverse communities. He highlights ...

Empowering Inclusion: Shaheen's Journey with Ta'leem Consulting Welcome to Room for All at the 2025 Social Enterprise Festival hosted by the Social Enterprise Council of NSW and ACT (SECNA) at UTS. In this episode, we sit down with Shaheen, the founder of Ta'leem Consulting, a social enterprise dedicated to elevating marginalized voices through inclusive and equitable learning programs. Shaheen shares her personal journey, experiences, and the motivation behind her mission for social equity....

Innovative Solutions for Reuse: Patrick Manley on the Mission of Cercle In this episode of Room for All, co-founder and CEO of Cercle, Patrick Manley, discusses the organization's efforts to reduce single-use food and drink packaging through a comprehensive reuse network. Patrick explains how Cercle provides fully managed services for reusable packaging, including collection and washing, while also emphasizing the social impact by employing marginalized communities. He touches on the challen...

The Power of Inclusion: An Insider's Look at Hospitality with Stephanie Lopesi In this episode of the 'Room for All: The Inclusion in Hospitality Podcast,' join us as we welcome the incredible Stephanie Lopesi, Portfolio Director of Talent and Culture at the Accor Salter Brothers' Portfolio. Stephanie, fondly known as Steph, shares her professional journey and personal insights into the world of hospitality. Discover her passionate approach to promoting early promotions and inclusion within ...

Innovations in Disability Employment: An Insightful Discussion with Dr. Jenny Crosbie Join co-hosts Andrea Comastri and Saraya O'Connell from Hotel Etico as they welcome Dr. Jenny Crosbie, a principal industry fellow at the Centre for Social Impact at Swinburne University, to discuss the WISE (Work Integration Social Enterprises) model and the unique WISEability model. The conversation includes an in-depth look at social enterprises, the evolution and funding of supported employment in Austra...

Quinn's Inspirational Journey: From Trainee to Accomplished Chef In a special episode of 'Room For All,' hosts Andrea Comastri and Saraya O'Connell celebrate Andrea's birthday with an extraordinary guest, Quinn Jones. Quinn, one of the original trainees from the first intake back in 2021, shares his inspiring journey from a shy, reserved individual to a confident apprentice chef at the Fairmont. The episode delves into Quinn's unique upbringing by activist parents, his struggles and successes...

Training for Inclusion: Interview with Hotel Etico's Training Manager In this episode of Room for All, hosts Andrea Comastri and Saraya O'Connell welcome special guest Nathalie Kasselis, the Training Manager at Hotel Etico. They discuss Nathalie's personal background, her passion for fitness, nature, and poetry, and her professional journey from finance to training. The conversation delves deep into the individualized training methods developed by Nathalie, focusing on strength-based, practic...

Customer Service and Guest Experience - Featuring Samantha Cox In this episode of 'Room for All,' Andrea Comastri and Saraya O'Connell, hosts from Australia's first social enterprise hotel, Hotel Etico, dive into the world of inclusive employment. They discuss the importance of creating opportunities for people with disabilities, particularly in customer-facing roles within the hospitality industry. Joined by Samantha Cox, former EA to Sir Richard Branson and founder of Samantha Cox Internati...

Exploring Social Enterprise with Sally McGeoch - Inclusion in Hospitality Podcast Join hosts Andrea Comastri and Saraya O'Connell on the Room for All - Inclusion in Hospitality podcast as they welcome special guest Sally McGeoch. In this episode, Sally shares her inspiring journey from growing up in a family business committed to inclusive employment to becoming a Senior Advisor at Westpac Foundation. Learn about her work supporting social enterprises, including her involvement with the Brea...

Welcome to Room for All! Join hosts Saraya O'Connell and Andrea Comastri as they discuss Hotel Etico's innovative Program Elevate with guest Mariella Cuttonaro. This initiative focuses on transitioning individuals with disabilities from supported employment to open employment in the hospitality and tourism sectors. Learn about Mariella's extensive experience in the field, the genesis of the program, challenges faced, and the positive impact of inclusive hiring. The episode delves into the s...